Water-soluble single-wall carbon nanotubes as a platform technology for biomedical applications

Abstract

The present invention provides for novel methods of generating phenyl sulfonated single-wall carbon nanotubes (1), particularly wherein such phenyl sulfonated single-wall carbon nanotubes can be dissolved in water as true solutions and provide a platform for a variety of biomedical applications.

1 . A method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a plurality of phenylated SWNTs, wherein said phenylated SWNTs comprise phenyl groups covalently bonded to the sidewalls of the SWNTs; and    b) reacting said phenylated SWNTs with sulfuric acid to yield phenyl sulfonated SWNTs (1).    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the phenylated SWNTs are made by a method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a plurality of SWNTs; and    b) reacting said SWNTs with benzoyl peroxide.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the phenylated SWNTs are made by a method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a plurality of SWNTs in liquid ammonia;    b) reducing said SWNTs with an alkali metal to yield reduced SWNTs; and    c) reacting said reduced SWNTs with an aryl halide.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the aryl halide is selected from the group consisting of chlorobenzene, bromobenzene, iodobenzene, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising a step of purifying the phenyl sulfonated SWNTs.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising a step of dispersing the phenyl sulfonated SWNTs in an aqueous-based solvent.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising a step of reacting the phenyl sulfonated SWNTs with NaOH to yield SWNT-phenyl-SO 3 Na (2).  
     
     
         8 . A method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a plurality of phenylated small diameter CNTs (SD-CNTs), wherein said phenylated SD-CNTs comprise phenyl groups covalently bonded to the sidewalls of the SD-CNTs; and    b) reacting said phenylated SD-CNTs with sulfuric acid to yield phenyl sulfonated SD-CNTs.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the SD-CNTs are selected from the group consisting of single-wall carbon nanotubes, double-wall carbon nanotubes, triple-wall carbon nanotubes, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the phenylated SD-CNTs are made by a method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a plurality of SD-CNTs; and    b) reacting said SD-CNTs with benzoyl peroxide.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the phenylated SD-CNTs are made by a method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a plurality of SD-CNTs in liquid ammonia;    b) reducing said SD-CNTs with an alkali metal to yield reduced SD-CNTs; and    c) reacting said reduced SD-CNTs with an aryl halide.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the aryl halide is selected from the group consisting of chlorobenzene, bromobenzene, iodobenzene, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising a step of purifying the phenyl sulfonated SD-CNTs.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising a step of dispersing the phenyl sulfonated SD-CNTs in an aqueous-based solvent.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising a step of reacting the phenyl sulfonated SD-CNTs with NaOH to yield SD-CNT-phenyl-SO 3 Na.